Saraki replies APC leaders

Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki yesterday reacted to the remarks made by All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders during the party’s presidential campaign rallies at the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin, Kwara State.

APC leaders, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and Information, Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed had called for an end to the Saraki “hegemony” in Kwara by casting their ballot for President Buhari and candidates of the APC on Saturday and March 2.

But in a statement by his Media Adviser Yusuf Olaniyonu, the Senate President said theattacks on him showed the frustration of the APC leaders.

The statement stated that the APC leaders knew that their party would lose the elections.

It reads: “That is why in their desperate mood they are only hurling abuses instead of discussing issues and telling the people what they will do for them. They came to Kwara State to hurl insults at me and my people, instead of explaining to the people what they want to do differently and what contributions their flagbearers and other leaders in the state have made to our various communities to justify the people shifting their loyalty to their dying party. They promised nothing concrete that will improve the standard of living of the people and provide infrastructure.

“My problem with them has always been that after we worked with our people to support them to win in 2015, they refused to work on infrastructure and other policy issues that can bring direct benefit to our people.”

The statement alleged that of Tinubu’s grouse against  Saraki was that the latter blocked him from becoming Buhari’s running mate in 2015.

“As far as he, Tinubu, is concerned, I stopped him from realisng his ambition then. However, I believe my action then and now is in pursuit of national interest. Again, I supported President Buhari in 2015 because I believe he could make a positive change. I left the party when I realised he lacked the capacity and the desire to make any change,” Saraki was quoted as saying.

Saraki, theory had earlier been dismissed in a statement by the former Lagos governor’s ally, Mr. Tunji Bello.

Bello, who is Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), gave an account on the role Tinubu played in promoting Prof Yemi Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate in the run-up to the 2015 presidential poll. Osinbajo had also corroborated the claim on several occasions.